Curved light guide structure, method of manufacturing same, and optical transmission system

Abstract

A curved light guide structure configured to guide a spectral region, includes: end faces disposed at two ends of the ring segment structure; a first main side extending between the end faces and a second main side opposite the first main side and extending between the end faces; at least a first pass region on the first main side, the first pass region being configured to receive and let pass an optical signal within the spectral region, the curved light guide structure being configured to guide the optical signal along an axial direction between the end faces; and at least a second pass region on the second main side that is configured to let pass and to emit at least part of the optical signal from the curved light guide structure.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A curved light guide structure configured to guide an optical signal within a spectral region, and comprising:
 end faces disposed at two ends of the curved light guide structure; 
 a first main side extending between the end faces, and a second main side opposite the first main side and extending between the end faces; 
 at least a first pass region on the first main side, the first pass region being configured to receive and transmit an optical signal within the spectral region, wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to guide the optical signal along an axial direction between the end faces; and 
 at least a second pass region on the second main side that is configured to let pass, to form and emit at least part of the optical signal from the curved light guide structure; 
 wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the optical signal to be emitted onto a first end face of the end faces, the second pass region being associated with a sub-region of the end face; and the part of the optical signal is based on a part of the optical signal that is redirected at the sub-region; wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the received optical signal to the first end face of the end faces, thereby performing focusing of the optical signal so that the optical signal redirected from the first end face is collimated; and 
 wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to redirect the optical signal at one of the end faces between the axial direction and a direction oblique thereto; wherein the curved light guide structure comprises a plurality of second pass regions in the second main side, each of the second pass regions being associated with a sub-region of the end face; wherein the curved light guide structure further comprises a plurality of reflection elements arranged on the first main side in the curved light guide structure and configured to reflect a part of the optical signal, that is reflected by the associated sub-region of the end face, onto the associated second pass region; and wherein the end face is configured to redirect the optical signal in an inclined direction inclined to a course of the second main side and in a direction towards the first main side, wherein the plurality of reflection elements are arranged with increasing distance from the end face, and the different sub-regions of the end face are configured, on the basis of the inclined direction, to redirect a respectively associated spatial part of the optical signal onto a respectively associated reflection element; or 
 the curved light guide structure is configured to redirect the optical signal received from the first pass region in a manner that spatially distributed between the first main side and second main side and along the axial direction and substantially parallel to the second main side, wherein the curved light guide structure comprises a plurality of reflection elements distributed along a thickness direction, each reflection element being configured to couple out a spatial part of the optical signal. 
 
     
     
       2. A curved light guide structure configured to guide an optical signal within a spectral region, and comprising:
 end faces disposed at two ends of the curved light guide structure; 
 a first main side extending between the end faces, and a second main side opposite the first main side and extending between the end faces; 
 at least a first pass region on the first main side, the first pass region being configured to receive and transmit an optical signal within the spectral region, wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to guide the optical signal along an axial direction between the end faces; and 
 at least a second pass region on the second main side that is configured to let pass, to form and emit at least part of the optical signal from the curved light guide structure; 
 wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the received optical signal to a reflection element configured to reflect the optical signal onto a sub-region of a first end face of the end faces that is associated with the reflection element; and the second pass region is configured to output the optical signal reflected by the end face; 
 wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the received optical signal to the reflection element; wherein the arrangement of the first pass region and the reflection element is arranged to transmit the optical signal to the first end face in a collimated state; and 
 wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to redirect the optical signal at one of the end faces between the axial direction and a direction oblique thereto; wherein the curved light guide structure comprises a plurality of second pass regions in the second main side, each of the second pass regions being associated with a sub-region of the end face; wherein the curved light guide structure further comprises a plurality of reflection elements arranged on the first main side in the curved light guide structure and configured to reflect a part of the optical signal, that is reflected by the associated sub-region of the end face, onto the associated second pass region; and wherein the end face is configured to redirect the optical signal in an inclined direction inclined to a course of the second main side and in a direction towards the first main side, wherein the plurality of reflection elements are arranged with increasing distance from the end face, and the different sub-regions of the end face are configured, on the basis of the inclined direction, to redirect a respectively associated spatial part of the optical signal onto a respectively associated reflection element; or 
 the curved light guide structure is configured to redirect the optical signal received from the first pass region in a manner that spatially distributed between the first main side and second main side and along the axial direction and substantially parallel to the second main side, wherein the curved light guide structure comprises a plurality of reflection elements distributed along a thickness direction, each reflection element being configured to couple out a spatial part of the optical signal. 
 
     
     
       3. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end face is configured to redirect the optical signal in a direction parallel to a course of the second main side, wherein in regions of the reflection elements taper with respect to a distance between the first main side and the second main side, and the reflection elements comprise edges of a respective material taper. 
     
     
       4. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each reflection element is uniquely associated with a constant or variable height region of the curved light guide structure between the first and second main sides, which height region is determined via the sub-region of the end face. 
     
     
       5. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the second pass regions is configured to provide the respective part of the optical signal to a spatial region external to the curved light guide structure;
 the spatial regions overlapping at a distance configured to a communications receiver; 
 wherein each of the second pass regions is configured to provide the respective part of the optical signal, in a collimated state, to a spatial region outside the curved light guide structure. 
 
     
     
       6. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first pass region is arranged adjacent to an end face. 
     
     
       7. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to redirect the optical signal via a reflection element towards one of the end faces between the axial direction and a direction oblique thereto; wherein the curved light guide structure comprises a plurality of first pass regions in the first main side, each first pass region being associated with a sub-region of the end face. 
     
     
       8. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first pass regions are disposed such that a distance between the first pass regions is arranged such that the distance corresponds at most to the spatial extent of the optical signal. 
     
     
       9. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each reflection element is associated with a sub-region of the end face; and a reflection element is associated with each of the first pass regions. 
     
     
       10. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second pass region is disposed adjacent to an end face. 
     
     
       11. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , the shape of which describes an elliptical ring segment. 
     
     
       12. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , the shape of which describes a circular ring segment. 
     
     
       13. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , the curvature of which comprises an aperture angle β of at least 5° and less than 360° with respect to a circumferentially closed path. 
     
     
       14. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second pass region comprises a surface which is convexly curved, spherical, aspherically curved or is a free form. 
     
     
       15. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , which provides a first segment of an overall structure and which comprises a second segment of equal or different size, the end faces of the two segments being arranged adjacent to each other in a center region, the first pass region or the second pass region being arranged in the center region. 
     
     
       16. The curved light guide structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first pass region and the second pass region are bidirectionally transparent to the spectral region. 
     
     
       17. An optical transmission system comprising:
 an optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal; 
 a curved light guide structure, 
 wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to guide an optical signal within a spectral region, and comprises: end faces disposed at two ends of the curved light guide structure; a first main side extending between the end faces, and a second main side opposite the first main side and extending between the end faces; at least a first pass region on the first main side, the first pass region being configured to receive and transmit an optical signal within the spectral region, wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to guide the optical signal along an axial direction between the end faces; and at least a second pass region on the second main side that is configured to let pass, to form and emit at least part of the optical signal from the curved light guide structure; wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the optical signal to be emitted onto a first end face of the end faces, the second pass region being associated with a sub-region of the end face; and the part of the optical signal is based on a part of the optical signal that is redirected at the sub-region; wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the received optical signal to the first end face of the end faces, thereby performing focusing of the optical signal so that the optical signal redirected from the first end face is collimated; or 
 wherein the curved light guide structure and comprises: end faces disposed at two ends of the curved light guide structure; a first main side extending between the end faces, and a second main side opposite the first main side and extending between the end faces; at least a first pass region on the first main side, the first pass region being configured to receive and transmit an optical signal within the spectral region, wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to guide the optical signal along an axial direction between the end faces; and at least a second pass region on the second main side that is configured to let pass, to form and emit at least part of the optical signal from the curved light guide structure; wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the received optical signal to a reflection element configured to reflect the optical signal onto a sub-region of a first end face of the end faces that is associated with the reflection element; and the second pass region is configured to output the optical signal reflected by the end face; wherein the first pass region is configured to direct the received optical signal to the reflection element; wherein the arrangement of the first pass region and the reflection element is arranged to transmit the optical signal to the first end face in a collimated state; 
 wherein the curved light guide structure is configured to receive the optical signal at the first pass region; and 
 an optical receiver for receiving at least part of the optical signal at the second pass region of the curved light guide structure; 
 wherein a plurality of second pass regions are arranged on the second main side and are configured to each output a portion of the optical signal, wherein at a location of the optical receiver, every other pass region provides the part of the optical signal into a spatial region outside the curved light guide structure; wherein the spatial regions overlap at the location of the optical receiver such that upon a relative movement of the optical receiver with respect to the second pass regions, at least one second pass region is positioned with the optical receiver for optical communication; and/or wherein a plurality of first pass regions are arranged on the first main side, each configured to receive the optical signal, the optical transmitter being configured such that, at a location of the curved light guide structure, the optical signal impinges on the curved light guide structure in a spatial region, the spatial region being larger, along the extension of the curved light guide structure, than a respective first pass region; wherein the first pass regions are spaced apart from each other with a distance between them that is selected such that upon a relative movement of the optical transmitter with respect to the first pass regions, at least one respective first pass region is positioned with the optical transmitter for optical communication; or 
 wherein a plurality of pass regions are arranged on the second main side, and at least one pass region is arranged on the first main side; 
 wherein the optical transmitter is a first optical transmitter, wherein the optical receiver is a first optical receiver; wherein the optical transmission system comprises at least a second optical transmitter and at least a second optical receiver, wherein a beam splitter is arranged adjacent to the pass region on the first main side and is configured to direct an optical signal received from the pass region of the first main side to the first optical receiver arranged adjacent to the beam splitter, and to direct an optical signal received from the first optical transmitter to the pass region of the first main side, wherein adjacent to the second main side, the second optical transmitter is arranged adjacent to a pass region and the second optical receiver is arranged adjacent to a pass region different therefrom. 
 
     
     
       18. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are arranged to be movable relative to each other so as to perform a relative rotational movement about a shared axis of rotation. 
     
     
       19. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the curved light guide structure is stationary with respect to one of the optical receiver and the optical transmitter. 
     
     
       20. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 17 . 
     
     
       21. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the optical receiver is a first optical receiver, wherein the optical transmitter is fixedly connected to the curved light guide structure, in which the curved light guide structure describes a sub-region of a circumferential path, and the optical transmission system comprises at least one second optical receiver, so that at each relative position, at least one optical receiver is arranged, with respect to the curved optical waveguide structure, in such a way as to receive part of the optical signal. 
     
     
       22. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the curved light guide structure is formed symmetrically about a center region and toward the end faces, the first pass region is disposed in the center region, and the optical transmitter is arranged to be stationary with respect to the center region; or
 wherein the second pass region is disposed in the center region, and the optical receiver is arranged to be stationary with respect to the center region. 
 
     
     
       23. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the optical transmitter is a first optical transmitter, wherein the optical receiver is connected to the curved light guide structure in a stationary manner, in which the curved light guide structure describes a sub-region of a circumferential path, and the optical transmission system comprises at least one second optical transmitter, so that at each relative position, at least one optical transmitter is arranged, with respect to the curved light guide structure, in such a way as to transmit the optical signal to the curved light guide structure. 
     
     
       24. The optical transmission system as claimed in  claim 17 .